Boston sports rarely blend into a single moment, but TD Garden became exactly that kind of crossover stage. The Celtics were in the middle of a regular-season game against the Trail Blazers, yet the night’s biggest storyline had nothing to do with basketball.
It came from the stands. And it came 24 hours after the Pats booked their place in Super Bowl LX.
Bill Chisholm’s Drake Maye Hoodie Goes Viral as Robert Kraft Gets Standing Ovation
Apr 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, left, talks with Patriots owner Robert Kraft courtside during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Apr 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, left, talks with Patriots owner Robert Kraft courtside during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Early in the first quarter at TD Garden, the broadcast camera cut to Boston Celtics owner Bill Chisholm, who stood up from his seat wearing a black hoodie that read, “I love Drake Maye.” The design replaced the heart symbol with a green clover, a direct nod to Boston and the Celtics.
Kraft deserves a hand job tonight!
— jks_bikes (@jks_bikes) January 27, 2026
The moment was first shared by reporter Justin Turpin on X during the game on Jan. 27. Chisholm pointed at the hoodie and shouted toward the crowd, clearly embracing the growing buzz around the Patriots’ young quarterback.
Not long after, the arena camera spotted Pats owner Kraft elsewhere inside the building. When Kraft appeared on the Jumbotron, the TD Garden crowd erupted. Fans stood, clapped, and delivered a loud ovation, treating Kraft like the headline act of the night.
The reaction made sense given the timing.On Sunday, the Pats beat the Broncos 10–7 in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The game unfolded in heavy snow, with offense hard to come by for both sides.
Drake Maye scored New England’s only TD on a six-yard QB run in the second quarter. He finished with 65 rushing yards and added a crucial scramble late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The Patriots’ defence forced two turnovers and held Denver scoreless after halftime.
The win sent the Pats to their 12th Super Bowl appearance, the most by any franchise in NFL history. It also marked a stunning turnaround under first-year HC Mike Vrabel, who took over a team that had won just four games two seasons earlier.
Super Bowl LX awaits the Patriots on February 8, 2026, set under the lights of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Who they’ll face comes down to one game – the result of the NFC title match between Seattle and Los Angeles decides it. Victory there sends either the Seahawks or Rams their way.
Along the way, many fans reacted:
Afan said, “Kraft deserves a hand job tonight.”
Anothersaid, “What a Happy Ending for Mr Kraft.”
Another onesaid, “No better place to be a sports fan ❤️.”
Anothersaid, “Where’s that shamrock shirt?”
Anotherchimesin, “Fantastic.”
That context turned Chisholm’s hoodie and Kraft’s appearance into more than just a fun courtside moment. It became a snapshot of where Boston sports stand right now.
The Celtics are chasing another deep playoff run. Also, the Pats are one win away from another title. And inside TD Garden, both worlds collided on the same night, with Drake Maye and Robert Kraft sitting at the centre of it.